Improvement in the modes of attaching roofing-slates



S. FARUUHAR.

Mode of Attaching Roung Slates.

Patented Maj/20,1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL FARQUHAR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN IHE MODESJ OF ATTACHING ROOFING-SLATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,999, dated May 20,1873; application filed April 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FARQUHAR, or Boston, in the county of Suifolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Method ofAttaching Slates to Roofs, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawingmaking part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a'portion of the inner or under side of a roof of a building,representing my improved methodiof securing slates thereto. Fig. 2 is aplan of the outside of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on thelinea x of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view representing my improved fasteningdevice detached.

My present invention relates to the manner of securing slates to ironroofs. This has heretofore been accomplished by nails of lead, copper,or other soft metal, or by copper wire passing through the slates, andbeing clinched, bent, or turned around the purlins on which they rest.The employment of leaden or copper nails is objectionable, for thereason that when turned under or around the edge of the purlin they arecut thereby, and when much snow is on the roof the pressure thereoftends to draw out and straighten or stretchV these nails, whereby theslates are loosened from their proper position; and where the copperwire is used the heads of the slates cannot be supported by the purlins,owing to the necessity of passing the wire around them, and the heads ofthe slates are consequently liable to be tipped down by the action ofthe wind, thus allowing rain to pass under their tails or lower ends,causing the roof to leak. My invention has for its purpose'to remedythese objections; and consists in a bent plate, which hooks under oraround the purlins on which the slate rests, and is provided with aboltv passing through it and the bent plate, one end of the bolt havinga head, which is countersunk in the upper side of the slate, the otherend of the bolt being secured by a nut or by screwing into the bentplate, or by clinching.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

In the said drawing, A A represent the iron rafters of a roof, to whichare secured the iron 'purlins or angle-irons B B, upon which are laidthe slates C C, each of which is provided with two countersunk holes, aa, situated just above the middle one of the three purlins over which itextends. Through each of these holes ot passes an iron bolt, b, whichalso passes through the upper and lower portions 7 8 of a bent plate, D,which is hooked under the edge of the purlin, the upper end of the boltbeing provided with a head, 9, which is countersunk hush with or belowthe upper surface of the slate, the lower end of the bolt having ascrew-thread, over which turns a nut, c, by means of which the slate canbe held securely in place. The portion7 of the bent plate D rests uponthe purlin, and prevents the slate from slipping down.

Where the construction of the building is such as to render it difficultor impossible to use screw-nuts, the lower portion of each bolt b is*made to screw into the inner portion 8 of the bent plate, a groovebeing formed in the head of the bolt to allow of its being turned with ascrew-driver. y

Where purlins of various forms in cross-section are employed, the bentplates D must be so shaped as to admit of their being applied thereto.

By means of the above-described fastening I am enabled to so secure theslates that their heads will rest on the purlins without the liabilityof becoming loose, which is not the case where they are secured by leador copper nails. Furthermore, the strength of my improved fasteningadmits of a larger and heavier slate being employed than has heretoforebeen practicable, and, consequently, the purlins can be placed furtherapart and their number reduced, as well as the labor of slating theroof, the saving thus effected more than compensating for the extra costof the fastenings.

Instead of'using a screw-bolt in connection with my bent plate, aleaden, copper, or iron bolt or nail without a screw-thread may beemployed, one end of the bolt or nail being clinched or turned down overthe bent plete Y; but I prefer the screw-bolt, as first described.

Claim.

vided with zt head, 9, and the other end secured by ai screw-nut, c, orotherwise, substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 31st day of March,

SAMUEL FARQUHAR. Witnesses P. E. TEsoHEMAcHER, N. W. STEARNs, W. J.CAMBRIDGE.

